taxonID	type	description	language	source
B802C05C36308E13FFECFB22CDADFD8B.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. — The genus Spectrunculus differs from all other ophidiid genera in the combination of the following characters: dorsal-fin rays 121 – 148; anal-fin rays 91 – 112; total vertebrae 72 – 88; pectoral-fin rays 24 – 31; head short, 4.2 to 5.9 times in SL and 1.75 to 2.89 times in preanal distance; head robust with rounded snout and with several pores above and below eyes, mouth subterminal, upper jaw extending well behind eye. Teeth minute, blunt and robust, vomer roughly triangular or rhombic shaped. Anterior nostril with a thick, fleshy raised rim, posterior nostril larger, a mere hole or slit close to eye. Opercular spine strong. Head and body completely covered by small oval scales. Eyes shorter than snout, 5.5 or more times in HL; long rakers on anterior gill arch 7 – 10; two median basibranchial tooth patches; pelvic fins placed below preopercle; otolith ostium and sulcus well developed; color of head and body uniformly pale creamy or whitish, light or dark brown (rarely pale with dark speckles or rings); unpaired fins often dark when fresh or recently collected; dark pigmentation may not be retained with longer-term preservation.	en	Uiblein, Franz, Møller, Peter R., Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of a New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology 111 (3): 467-485, DOI: 10.1643/i2023005, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/i2023005
B802C05C36308E13FFECFB22CDADFD8B.taxon	discussion	Remarks. — Four valid species with maximum sizes of 60 to 130 cm SL (¼ ca. 65 to 140 cm TL) distributed in various parts of the major oceans (for details see species accounts below). Larger juveniles, subadults, and adults occur at or close to deep bathyal and abyssal bottoms (depth range ca. 1000 to at least 4255 m), mostly caught by bottom longlining or trawling or photographed in baited landers; larvae and small juveniles are pelagic (Ambrose, 1996). Considering their large size and relatively common occurrence in distinct areas, species of Spectrunculus may play an important ecological role in deep-sea ecosystems (Uiblein et al., 2008). No reported commercial value.	en	Uiblein, Franz, Møller, Peter R., Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of a New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology 111 (3): 467-485, DOI: 10.1643/i2023005, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/i2023005
B802C05C36308E15FCBFFDA3CDD8F9CA.taxon	description	Figures 1 – 4, Tables 1 – 3	en	Uiblein, Franz, Møller, Peter R., Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of a New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology 111 (3): 467-485, DOI: 10.1643/i2023005, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/i2023005
B802C05C36308E15FCBFFDA3CDD8F9CA.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. — ZMUB 18493 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 20149), female, 825 mm SL (pale), N Atlantic, 42825.49 0 N, 29848.14 0 W to 42825.49 0 N, 29846.13 0 W, M / S LORAN, sta. 13, bottom longline, 2018 – 2429 m depth, 8 July 2004. Paratypes. — All North Atlantic (n ¼ 22): ZMUB 18477 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 12291), male, 650 mm SL (pale), 42848.6 0 N, 29838.36 0 W to 42846.64 0 N, 29838.59 0 W, R / V G. O. SARS, sta. 42 - 368, bottom trawl, 2063 – 2107 m depth, 8 July 2004; ZMUB 18478 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 13347), female, 825 mm SL (pale), 42846.2 0 N, 29816.2 0 W, R / V G. O. SARS, sta. 46 - 372, bottom trawl, 3005 – 3050 m depth, 11 July 2004; ZMUB 18479 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 2617), male, 830 mm SL (pale), 4382.07 0 N, 28833.11 0 W to 4380.88 0 N, 28834 0 W, R / V G. O. SARS, sta. 50 - 373, bottom trawl, 2593 – 2607 m depth, 12 July 2004; ZMUB 18480 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 13977), male, 670 mm SL, female, 840 mm SL (both pale), 42855.32 0 N, 2888.35 0 W to 42853.05 0 N, 2888.33 0 W, R / V G. O. SARS, sta. 52 - 374, bottom trawl, 2973 – 2979 m depth, 13 July 2004; ZMUB 18481 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 13821), male, 680 mm SL (pale), 5387.8 0 N, 34845.6 0 W, R / V G. O. SARS, sta. 68 - 384, bottom trawl, 2306 – 2374 m depth, 25 July 2004; ZMUB 18482 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 16013), male, 725 mm SL, ZMUB 18483 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 16027), male, 975 mm SL, ZMUB 18484 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 16041), female, 858 mm SL, ZMUB 18485 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 16055), female, 765 mm SL (all pale), 42834.91 0 N, 2882.64 0 W to 42833.91 0 N, 2885.84 0 W, M / S LORAN, sta. 1, bottom longline, 2925 – 2827 m depth, 5 July 2004; ZMUB 18486 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 17105), female, 950 mm SL, ZMUB 18487 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 20065), female, 742 mm SL, ZMUB 18488 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 20079), male, 625 mm SL, ZMUB 18489 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 20093), female, 825 mm SL, ZMUB 18490 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 20107), male, 685 mm SL, ZMUB 18492 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 20135), female, 925 mm SL, ZMUB 18494 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 20163), female, 885 mm SL (all pale), ZMUB 18491 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 20121), female, 895 mm SL (pale with several large brown rings on body), same station data as HT; ZMUC P 77793, 960 mm SL, ZMUC P 77794 800 mm SL, ZMUC P 77795, male, 960 mm SL, ZMUC P 77796, 730 mm SL (all pale), 43839.3 0 N, 22837.8 0 W, R / V WALTHER HERWIG, sta. 82 - 352, beam trawl, 1900 – 2080 m depth, 8 June 1982. Non-type material. — S Indian Ocean E (n ¼ 4): MNHN 2003 - 0598, 754 mm SL (dark), MNHN 2003 - 0599, 962 mm SL (light brown), Kerguelen, 50850.3 0 S, 69844.1 0 E, F / V Ile Bourbon, longline, 1768 m depth, 11 October 2002; SAIAB 118942, 2, 706 mm SL (dark) and 1001 mm SL (light brown), near Lena Tablemount, 53830 0 S, 48831.5 0 E, F / V SHINSEI MARU, nr. 3, longline, 2112 m depth, 19 May 2010. SW Pacific (n ¼ 5): CSIRO H- 5304.01, female, 1060 mm SL (light brown when fresh, pale after preservation), 38834 0 S, 149828 0 E to 38836 0 S, 149833 0 E, 1954 – 1979 m depth, 19 April 2000; CSIRO H- 6036.02, female, 510 mm SL (light brown when fresh, pale after preservation), 3283 0 S, 159852 0 E to 3282 0 S, 159851 0 E, NORFANZ cruise, R / V TANGAROA, station 0308 / 071, 1920 – 1934 m depth, 24 May 2003; NMNZ P. 031193, female, 610 mm SL (pale), 42855.59 0 S, 172839.21 0 E, R / V TANGAROA, sta. TAN 9406 / 226, 1694 – 1707 m depth, 22 June 1994; NMNZ P. 033111, female, 1030 mm SL (pale), 37830 0 S, 176830 0 E; USNM 215295, 248 mm SL (pale), 42811 0 S, 175811 0 E, 2602 – 2619 m depth, 20 September 1966.	en	Uiblein, Franz, Møller, Peter R., Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of a New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology 111 (3): 467-485, DOI: 10.1643/i2023005, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/i2023005
B802C05C36308E15FCBFFDA3CDD8F9CA.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. — Number of dorsal-fin rays 137 – 148, anal-fin rays 102 – 112, total vertebrae 80 – 88, pre-anal length 47 – 55 % in SL, pelvic- to anal-fin origin 34 – 44 % in SL, orbit length 9.9 – 12 in % HL, otolith ostium width 15 – 21 in % sulcus length and 19 – 29 in % ostium length; maximum size to 110 cm SL.	en	Uiblein, Franz, Møller, Peter R., Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of a New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology 111 (3): 467-485, DOI: 10.1643/i2023005, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/i2023005
B802C05C36308E15FCBFFDA3CDD8F9CA.taxon	description	Description. — The most important meristic and morphometric characters as well as the otolith characters are shown in Tables 1 – 3. Body elongate, laterally compressed, tapering towards tail. Pectoral-fin depth 5.7 – 7.9 times in SL, tail length 1.76 – 1.90 times in SL and preanal length 1.01 – 1.15 times in tail length. Head length 4.7 – 5.6 in SL and 2.23 – 2.75 in preanal length; head depth through eye 7.8 – 9.5 times in SL. Orbit circular, shorter than snout, 2.09 – 2.80 in snout length. Anterior gill arch with 8 – 10 long and 10 – 13 rudimentary rakers. Pseudobranchial filaments 0 – 2. Origin of dorsal fin above vertebra 9 – 11, well in front of distal tip of pectoral fin. Pelvic fins with two rays each reaching about 1 / 3 from its base to anal-fin origin. Pectoral fins on lower half of body, rather short, 10 – 14 times in SL, and moderately wide at fin base, the width 19 – 21 times in SL. Otolith (Fig. 3 A) mostly elongate, length to height ratio 1.41 – 2.25, with pointed posterior tip. Anterior tip rounded. Dorsal surface concave. Sulcus long, 54 – 81 % of otolith length with separated colliculi and located at the center of inner face. Ostium narrow, its width 15 – 21 % of sulcus length and 19 – 29 % of ostium length. Coloration. — Freshly or recently caught specimens with pale creamy body and head, unpaired fins dark brown along distal margins or more entirely, as observed in the 19 type specimens collected by the MAR-ECO cruise, North Atlantic, in 2004. One of those specimens showed in addition several large brown rings on body. Of four specimens collected in the Southern Indian Ocean, the two smaller ones (706 – 754 mm SL) were dark brown and the two larger ones (962 – 1001 mm SL) light brown. In three of those specimens, the unpaired fins were dark brown.	en	Uiblein, Franz, Møller, Peter R., Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of a New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology 111 (3): 467-485, DOI: 10.1643/i2023005, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/i2023005
B802C05C36308E15FCBFFDA3CDD8F9CA.taxon	etymology	Etymology. — The new species name is composed of the Greek word for narrow “ stenós ” and the otolith structure “ ostium. ” The ablative of the combined term is “ stenostio, ” meaning “ with a narrow ostium. ”	en	Uiblein, Franz, Møller, Peter R., Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of a New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology 111 (3): 467-485, DOI: 10.1643/i2023005, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/i2023005
B802C05C36308E15FCBFFDA3CDD8F9CA.taxon	distribution	Distribution. — This species is distributed in the North Atlantic and Southern Indian Ocean to the Southwest Pacific (1694 to 3050 m depth). There are no records from the South Atlantic.	en	Uiblein, Franz, Møller, Peter R., Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of a New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology 111 (3): 467-485, DOI: 10.1643/i2023005, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/i2023005
B802C05C36308E15FCBFFDA3CDD8F9CA.taxon	discussion	Remarks. — Among the studied specimens that could be sexed were 9 males and 15 females. No sexual dimorphism could be found in any meristic and morphometric characters including otolith characters. A clear negative allometry in otolith length, but not in ostium and sulcus shape, was detected (Fig. 4). Apart from a slight decrease in relative orbit length with size (Fig. 4), no other allometric changes in body shape were encountered in Spectrunculus stenostio. A slight shift towards a lower number of total vertebrae was found in the Indo-Pacific population, while dorsal- and anal-fin ray number do not follow this trend (Table 2). Small-sized specimens (, 200 mm SL) not known; the smallest specimen studied is 248 mm SL.	en	Uiblein, Franz, Møller, Peter R., Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of a New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology 111 (3): 467-485, DOI: 10.1643/i2023005, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/i2023005
B802C05C36368E19FCBFF9FDCC8DF860.taxon	description	Figures 1 – 4, Tables 2 – 5	en	Uiblein, Franz, Møller, Peter R., Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of a New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology 111 (3): 467-485, DOI: 10.1643/i2023005, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/i2023005
B802C05C36368E19FCBFF9FDCC8DF860.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. — MNHN 1986 - 0552, 284 mm SL (light brown; described as dark brown in original description by Vaillant, 1888), NE Atlantic, 44820 0 N, 17811 0 W, R / V TALISMAN, sta. 136, 4255 m depth, 26 August 1883. Non-type material. — N Atlantic (n ¼ 49): MNHN 1979 - 0221, 329 mm SL (pale), 56838 0 N, 1186 0 W, R / V J. CHARCOT, sta. 2721, 2466 m depth, 17 July 1976; MNHN 1979 - 0222, 142 mm SL (light brown), 56838 0 N, 1186 0 W, R / V J. CHARCOT, sta. 2721, 2466 m depth, 17 July 1976; MNHN 1979 - 0223, 280 mm SL (light brown), 56833 0 N, 11811 0 W, R / V J. CHARCOT, sta. 2721, 2483 – 2513 m depth, 17 July 1976; MNHN 1979 - 0224, 400 mm SL (dark), 56833 0 0 00 N, 11810 0 58.8 00 W, J. CHARCOT, sta. Cp 04, 2483 – 2513 m, 17 July 1976; MNHN 1999 - 0708, 327 mm SL (light brown), 56815 0 N, 10816 0 W, R / V N. O. THALASSA, 2020 m depth, 27 April 1999; ZMUB 18351 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 8081), female, 250 mm SL (dark), ZMUB 18352 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 8067), male, 253 mm SL (light brown), 42854.91 0 N, 30820.37 0 W to 42853.11 0 N, 30820.92 0 W, R / V G. O. SARS, sta. 40 - 367, bottom trawl, 2660 – 2670 m depth, 7 July 2004; ZMUB 18353 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 13053), male, 216 mm SL (light brown), ZMUB 18354 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 2679), 2 females, 240 – 282 mm SL, male, 260 mm SL (all dark), ZMUB 18355 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 12419), female, 187 mm SL (light brown), 42855.32 0 N, 2888.35 0 W to 42853.05 0 N, 2888.33 0 W, R / V G. O. SARS, sta. 52 - 374, bottom trawl, 2973 – 2979 m depth, 13 July 2004; ZMUB 18356 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 11582), male, 220 mm SL (light brown), 53816.8 0 N, 35831.8 0 W, R / V G. O. SARS, sta. 72 - 386, bottom trawl, 2522 – 2567 m depth, 27 July 2004; ZMUB 18463 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 12291), 3 males, 482 – 522 mm SL, 1 unsexed specimen, 522 mm SL (all dark), 42848.6 0 N, 29838.36 0 W to 42846.64 0 N, 29838.59 0 W, R / V G. O. SARS, sta. 42 - 368, bottom trawl, 2063 – 2107 m depth, 8 July 2004; ZMUB 18464 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 10891), 3 females, 435 – 575 mm SL (all dark), 51855.08 0 N, 30825.02 0 W to 51856.14 0 N, 30824.44 0 W, R / V G. O. SARS, sta. 62 - 380, bottom trawl, 1872 – 1959 m depth, 20 July 2004; ZMUB 18465 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 13807), female, 445 mm SL (light-brown speckled), ZMUB 18466 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 13821), male, 420 mm SL, 7 females, 375 – 480 mm SL, 1 unsexed specimen, 405 mm SL (all dark), 5387.8 0 N, 34845.6 0 W, R / V G. O. SARS, sta. 68 - 384, bottom trawl, 2306 – 2374 m depth, 25 July 2004; ZMUB 18467 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 20275), female, 490 mm SL, ZMUB 18468 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 20261), female, 465 mm SL, ZMUB 18469 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 20247), female, 480 mm SL (all dark), 42825.49 0 N, 29848.14 0 W to 42825.49 0 N, 29846.13 0 W, M / S LORAN, sta. 13, bottom longline, 2429 – 2018 m depth, 8 July 2004; ZMUB 18470 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 17133), female, 510 mm SL (dark), 42823.26 0 N, 29859.71 0 W to 42824.88 0 N, 3080 0 W, M / S LORAN, sta. 15, bottom longline, 2650 – 2675 m depth, 9 July 2004; ZMUB 18471 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 16433), 470 mm SL, ZMUB 18472 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 16419), 510 mm SL, ZMUB 18473 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 16405), female, 475 mm SL (dark), 42837.77 0 N, 28822.18 0 W to 42837.58 0 N, 28819.16 0 W, M / S LORAN, sta. 5, bottom longline, 2125 – 2436 m depth, 6 July 2004; ZMUB 18474 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 17119), female, 480 mm SL (dark), 42825.49 0 N, 29848.14 0 W to 42825.49 0 N, 29846.13 0 W, M / S LORAN, sta. 13, bottom longline, 2429 – 2018 m depth, 8 July 2004; ZMUB 18475 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 17189), female, 330 mm SL (dark), 42836.14 0 N, 29820.05 0 W to 42837.82 0 N, 29819.51 0 W, M / S LORAN, sta. 16, bottom longline, 3366 – 3280 m depth, 9 July 2004; ZMUB 18476 (ZMUB-MAR-ECO 17393), female, 522 mm SL (dark), 42825.33 0 N, 29838.2 0 W to 42825.37 0 N, 29840.42 0 W, M / S LORAN, sta. 12, bottom longline, 1580 – 1964 m depth, 8 July 2004; ZMUB 19505 (ZMUB MAR-ECO 9757), 5 females, 455 – 540 mm SL, 2 unsexed specimens, 476 – 530 mm SL (all dark), 51827.02 0 N, 29819.73 0 W to 51828.02 0 N, 29819.54 0 W, R / V G. O. SARS, st. 56 - 378, bottom trawl, 1872 – 1950 m depth, 17 July 2004; ZMUC P 77797, 500 mm SL (dark), 43839.3 0 N, 22837.8 0 W, R / V WALTHER HERWIG, sta. 82 - 352, beam trawl, 1900 – 2080 m depth, 8 June 1982; ZMUC P 77805, female, 490 mm SL (dark), 43833.6 0 N, 22833.4 0 W, R / V WALTHER HERWIG, sta. 82 - 350, beam trawl, 1800 – 1970 m depth, 8 June 1982.	en	Uiblein, Franz, Møller, Peter R., Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of a New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology 111 (3): 467-485, DOI: 10.1643/i2023005, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/i2023005
B802C05C36368E19FCBFF9FDCC8DF860.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. — Number of dorsal-fin rays 121 – 131, anal-fin rays 91 – 102, total vertebrae 72 – 79, pre-anal length 42 – 54 % in SL, pelvic- to anal-fin origin 29 – 41 % in SL, orbit length 12 – 17 in % HL, otolith ostium width 22 – 30 in % sulcus length and 31 – 40 in % ostium length; dark-brown body, head, and fins in larger, fresh, or recently collected fish; juveniles lighter colored with dark unpaired fins; longer-preserved specimens mostly light brown, paler than when fresh; maximum size to 60 cm SL.	en	Uiblein, Franz, Møller, Peter R., Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of a New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology 111 (3): 467-485, DOI: 10.1643/i2023005, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/i2023005
B802C05C36368E19FCBFF9FDCC8DF860.taxon	description	Description. — The most important meristic and morphometric characters as well as the otolith characters are shown in Tables 2 – 5. Body elongate, laterally compressed, tapering towards tail. Pectoral-fin depth 6.9 – 8.3 times in SL, tail length 1.78 – 1.86 times in SL, and preanal length 1.16 – 1.33 times in tail length. Head length 4.6 – 5.6 in SL and 2.00 – 2.72 in preanal length; head depth through eye 8.2 – 11 times in SL. Orbit circular, shorter than snout, 1.56 – 2.26 times in snout length. Anterior gill arch with 8 – 10 long and 8 – 12 rudimentary rakers. Pseudobranchial filaments 0 – 2.	en	Uiblein, Franz, Møller, Peter R., Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of a New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology 111 (3): 467-485, DOI: 10.1643/i2023005, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/i2023005
B802C05C363D8E00FF05FD81CAC5FBE3.taxon	description	Figures 1 – 4, Tables 2, 3, 5, 7 Spectrunculus radcliffei Jordan and Thompson, 1914 (type locality: NW Pacific, Japan, 35810 0 N, 139837 0 E).	en	Uiblein, Franz, Møller, Peter R., Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of a New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology 111 (3): 467-485, DOI: 10.1643/i2023005, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/i2023005
B802C05C363D8E00FF05FD81CAC5FBE3.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. — FMNH 57123, postlarva (pale; described as translucent in original description by Jordan and Thompson, 1914), 56 mm SL, NW Pacific, Japan, Misaki, 35810 0 N, 139837 0 E. Non-type material. — S Atlantic (n ¼ 6): CAS-ICH 40233, female, 378 mm SL (light brown), off Cape of Good Hope, 35807 0 S, 18825.6 0 E, ca. 1000 m depth; SAIAB 47240, 541 mm SL (dark), off Cape Columbine, Western Cape, 32822 0 S, 16809 0 E, 1150 m depth, trawl, 14 January 1995; SAM F 023413, 188 mm SL (pale), 33852 0 S 16851 0 E, RV Africana II, 2440 m depth, 9 December 1959; SAM F 027093, 190 mm SL (pale), 33849 0 S, 16830 0 E, RV Africana II, 2743 m depth, 27 August 1959; ZMUC P 77702, 196 mm SL (light brown), 33836 0 S, 16815 0 E, R / V AFRICANA II, sta. 191, 3080 m depth, beam trawl, 24 August 1959; ZMUC P 77704, 192 mm SL (light brown), 34846 0 S, 16842 0 E, R / V AFRICANA II, sta. 316, 3360 m depth, beam trawl, 8 December 1959. S Indian Ocean: MNHN OTO 354 - 49 (only otolith and photo of freshly collected fish retained), 910 mm SL (light brown), Kerguelen, 50850 0 S, 69853.8 0 E, 1769 m depth, F / V Albius, longline, 20 September 2012. NW Pacific (n ¼ 3): ZMUC P 2397424, male, 1020 mm SL (pale), 2500 m depth, ZMUC P 2397444, female, 950 mm SL (light brown), ZMUC P 2397445, male, 945 mm SL (light brown), 2000 m depth, Suruga Bay, Central Japan, 348 N, 1388 E, caught in 2020. SW Pacific (n ¼ 2): NMNZ P. 041951, male, 332 mm SL (pale), 34831.5 0 S, 166821 0 E, 2930 m depth, September 1982; NMV A 25135.002, female, 423 mm SL (pale), 3283.98 0 S, 159852.8 0 E to 3282.26 0 S, 159851.11 0 E, NORFANZ cruise, R / V TANGAROA, sta. TAN 0308 / 071, 1920 – 1934 m depth, 24 May 2003. NE Pacific (n ¼ 11): OSUO 11722, 88 mm SL (dark), off Oregon Coast, 44848.8 0 N, 125836.5 0 W, ca. 2800 m depth, 8 March 1972; OSUO 11738, 94 mm SL (light brown), 45856.4 0 N, 127839.1 0 W, 2763 m depth, 13 March 1973; CAS-ICH 246805, male, 478 mm SL (light brown), 45818 0 42 00 N, 126834 0 24 00 W, R / V YAQUINA, beam trawl, 2750 m depth, 2 December 1974; CAS-ICH 32364, male, 495 mm SL (light brown), off Oregon, 44857 0 18 00 N, 126837 0 18 00 W to 44858 0 0 00 N, 126842 0 42 00 W, 2850 m depth, beam trawl; CAS-ICH 33083, male, 665 mm SL (light brown), female, 536 mm SL (dark), off Oregon, near Cascadia Channel, 45822 0 24 00 N, 127827 0 48 00 W to 45823 0 54 00 N, 127828 0 36 00 W, 2788 m depth, beam trawl; CAS-ICH 39821, male, 640 mm SL (light brown), off Oregon, 45821 0 30 00 N, 127833 0 0 00 W to 45821 0 42 00 N, 127838 0 30 00 W, 2800 m depth, beam trawl; CAS-ICH 40234, male, 446 mm SL (pale), off Oregon, Cascadia Abyssal Plain, 45827 0 48 00 N, 126817 0 24 00 W to 45827 0 0 00 N, 126821 0 0 00 W, 2606 m depth, beam trawl; CAS-ICH 40235, 307 mm SL (light brown), off Oregon, Cascadia Abyssal Plain, 45827 0 48 00 N, 126817 0 24 00 W to 45827 0 0 00 N, 126821 0 0 00 W, 2606 m depth, beam trawl; CAS-ICH 62566, 340 mm SL (light brown), off Oregon, Cascadia Abyssal Plain, 4485 0 18 00 N, 125823 0 35 00 W to 4487 0 6 00 N, 125821 0 48 00 W, 2940 m depth, beam trawl; LACM 45789, 1205 mm SL (light brown), ca. 378 N 1238 W, ca. 3000 m depth.	en	Uiblein, Franz, Møller, Peter R., Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of a New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology 111 (3): 467-485, DOI: 10.1643/i2023005, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/i2023005
B802C05C363D8E00FF05FD81CAC5FBE3.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. — Number of dorsal-fin rays 135 – 147, anal-fin rays 103 – 112, total vertebrae 78 – 83, pre-anal length 40 – 45 % in SL, pelvic- to anal-fin origin 28 – 33 % in SL, orbit length 8.0 – 16 in % HL, otolith ostium width 24 – 30 in % sulcus length and 32 – 40 in % ostium length; maximum size to 130 cm SL.	en	Uiblein, Franz, Møller, Peter R., Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of a New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology 111 (3): 467-485, DOI: 10.1643/i2023005, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/i2023005
B802C05C363D8E00FF05FD81CAC5FBE3.taxon	description	Description. — The most important meristic and morphometric characters as well as the otolith characters are shown in Tables 2, 3, 5, and 7. Body moderately elongate, laterally compressed, tapering towards tail. Pectoral-fin depth 6.1 – 10 times in SL, tail length 1.67 – 1.81 times in SL, and preanal length 1.24 – 1.43 times in tail length. Head length 4.2 – 5.4 in SL and 1.75 – 2.38 in preanal length; head depth through eye 6.8 – 12 times in SL. Orbit circular, shorter than snout, 1.27 – 3.18 times in snout length, slightly larger in small specimens. Anterior gill arch with 8 – 9 long and 9 – 13 rudimentary rakers. Pseudobranchial filaments 0 – 3. Origin of dorsal fin above vertebra 7 – 11, well in front of distal tip of pectoral fin. Pelvic fins with two rays each reaching about 1 / 3 from its base to anal-fin origin. Pectoral fins on lower half of body, rather short, 8.8 – 12 times in SL, and moderately wide at fin base in most specimens, the width 18 – 24 times in SL. Otolith (Fig. 3 F – H) oval in large-sized fish (length to height ratio 1.40 – 1.58) and more elongate in small-sized fish (length to height ratio 1.72 – 1.76), with slightly pointed posterior tip, anteriorly rather blunt. Sulcus long in large-sized specimens (61 – 74 % of otolith length) and shorter in small-sized fish (51 – 57 % of otolith length), with separate colliculi and located at the center of inner face. Ostium width 24 – 30 % of sulcus length and 32 – 40 % of ostium length in fish of 192 mm SL and larger; ostium width 44 – 49 % of ostium length in two 188 and 190 mm SL juveniles. Coloration. — Two freshly collected specimens from Japan, Northwest Pacific (ZMUC P 2397444 and P 2397445; 945 – 950 mm SL) with light brown body and head, unpaired fins slightly darker, especially posteriorly in tail region. A slightly larger fresh specimen (ZMUC P 2397724) from same area (1020 mm SL) is entirely whitish. Long-term preserved specimens, including HT (larva), pale creamy or pale yellowish.	en	Uiblein, Franz, Møller, Peter R., Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of a New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology 111 (3): 467-485, DOI: 10.1643/i2023005, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/i2023005
B802C05C363D8E00FF05FD81CAC5FBE3.taxon	distribution	Distribution. — This species is distributed in the Pacific and Southeast Atlantic (ca. 1000 to 3360 m depth). There are no records from the Indian Ocean.	en	Uiblein, Franz, Møller, Peter R., Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of a New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology 111 (3): 467-485, DOI: 10.1643/i2023005, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/i2023005
B802C05C363D8E00FF05FD81CAC5FBE3.taxon	discussion	Remarks. — Among the studied specimens, the four females and eight males showed no sex-related differences in morphological or color characters. Head, orbit, and ostium length show negative allometry when the entire size range (i. e., small-sized juveniles to largest-sized adults) is considered (Fig. 4). No such pattern was found for preanal and pelvic-fin length and ostium width. Two of the three smallest specimens (size range 188 – 190 mm SL) showed a relatively wide ostium compared to all other conspecifics (including the 192 mm SL specimen shown in Figs. 3 F, 4), possibly indicating early life-history modification in otolith form. Like in Spectrunculus grandis, the largest specimen of S. radcliffei showed a clearly shorter pelvic fin (Fig. 4).	en	Uiblein, Franz, Møller, Peter R., Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of a New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology 111 (3): 467-485, DOI: 10.1643/i2023005, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/i2023005
